06 September 2025
Newsdesk
A star-studded cast has been announced for the world premiere of Beautiful Little Fool, a new musical exploring the turbulent lives of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The production, which opens at Southwark Playhouse Borough on January 15, 2026, will star Tony and Olivier Award nominee Lauren Ward, alongside West End veteran Declan Bennett, and Broadway’s Hannah Corneau.
The musical, with music and lyrics by Corneau and a book by Mona Mansour, is told through the eyes of the couple's daughter, Scottie. Lauren Ward, celebrated for her roles in Matilda and Dear Evan Hansen, will play Scottie. Declan Bennett, known for his performances in Once and Jesus Christ Superstar, will portray the iconic novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. Hannah Corneau, who made her name as Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, will star as Zelda.
The production is helmed by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, known for his direction of smash-hit musicals like Rent and Dear Evan Hansen. This London premiere follows the recent announcement of a concept album, which features a first single, "So Alive," sung by two-time Tony winner Jessie Mueller. The full album is set to be released on October 24, 2025.
The show’s creative team also includes orchestrator Adam Rothenberg, musical director Jerome van den Berghe, and a design team featuring Shankho Chaudhuri (Set), Ben Stanton (Lighting), and Domnic Bilkey (Sound).
Tickets for Beautiful Little Fool, which runs until February 28, are on sale now. The show is produced by Mark Cortale, Jonathan Murray, and Harvey Reese, and was originally commissioned by New Works Provincetown.
